Deaths.
SIMPSON. — On the 15th April, the result of a tram way accident, Margaret Knox Simpson, sister of Mr David Henry, coal merchant, of Dunedin; aged 68 years. -Evening Star, 19/4/1900.
THE ROSLYN TRAM FATALITY.
An inquest was held at the hospital this afternoon before Messrs O. C. Graham, acting district coroner, on the body of Margaret Knox Simpson, who succumbed yesterday afternoon to injuries received through being run over by the Roslyn tram. Mr James Todd was chosen foreman of the jury. Mr Moore appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the relatives of deceased, and Mr Duncan for the tramway company.
Dr O’Neill, house surgeon at the hospital, said that deceased was admitted to the hospital shortly after one o’clock yesterday afternoon in a state of extreme collapse. He examined and dressed the injuries, which consisted of an extensive lacerated wound at the back of the right thigh and leg, and a large scalp wound about six inches long. There was a considerable amount of bruising about both wounds. A large piece of scalp was torn down. Both eyes were also bruised, and the nose was broken. There was a further small wound about the bridge of the nose, and slight bruises on the upper part of the chest. Deceased was also seen by Dr Barnett, visiting surgeon of the day. Her condition did not improve, and she died about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, never having recovered from the severe shock caused by the injuries sustained.
William Samuel Noster said ho was a conductor in the Roslyn Tram Company, and was in charge of the 12.05 tramcar from the top yesterday afternoon. After coming round the curve at the Cathedral he commenced to write down in his book the number of passengers aboard, and soon afterwards he heard the driver put on the brake. On looking up witness saw that the car had struck a woman. No sooner had the car struck the woman than the driver put on the other brake and stopped the car. By this time the woman had fallen and was under the car, which was lifted up, and the woman removed to Mr Chisholm’s factory. Witness had in the meantime left for Speight’s Brewery to ring up for a doctor. The driver no sooner put on one brake with the left hand than he jammed on the other with his right hand, so that the one was applied immediately after the other.
To the foreman of the jury: He never saw the woman until was knocked down by the car. He had no idea how the woman was knocked down, except that he saw her standing in front of the car when it struck her. She was right against the car.
To the sub-inspector; The up car passed them a little above Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm’s factory, a few yards above the spot where the accident occurred. The distance from the footpath to the rails was about two feet. The car came down on the side next to the footpath.
To a juryman: A warning was given after passing the other car by a ring of the bell. It was the usual custom for a conductor to write down in his book the number of passengers aboard while the car was on its way. Very likely he would have seen the woman had he not been writing at the time. He was not aware that any of the passengers saw the woman before the driver.
To Mr Moore: He did not take his eye off the book when he heard the bell of the car ring. The bell was often rung for carts to get out of the road. There was another ring after the cars passed, but he paid no attention to it.
To the coroner: It might have been his duty to look up when he heard the bell ring, but he did not think anything of it.
Continuing, witness said there were no special instructions as to when they had to record the traffic in their memo. books. The car ran about 12ft after the woman was struck.
Alfred Charles Lenz, driver, said the deceased was about 2yds in front of the car when she left the pavement. The inquest was proceeding when we went to press. -Evening Star, 19/4/1900.
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.
[Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, April 19. At an inquest touching the death of Margaret Knox Simpson, a widow, who died from injuries received by being knocked down by the Roslyn tram, the evidence showed that deceased was watching the up car. Not noticing the down car she stepped off the footpath to cross the road. The driver at once applied the brakes, and the car was brought up within 10ft or 11ft after striking her. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attachable to anyone. -Star, 20/4/1900.
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